The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-22
A CONFLICT WITH OUTLAWS
A Battle on the Banks of the Arkansas
River with Band of Desperadoes.
A Gang of Forty Men Followed and Attacked
by Vigilance Committee-Sixteen Men
Slain and Many Others Wounded.

LITTLE Rock. Ark, Oct. PA special to
the Arkansas Gazette from Wewoka T., via
Muskogee, this evening, says: On Thursday a
desperate fight took place the north fork OF
the Arkansas river. between Bud Trainers gang
of outlaws and vigilance committee under the
leadership of Robert Henderson, a Scotch half
breed, which followed them from Duckworth
store, in the Creek nation, on the occasion of
raid there on Wednesday. 1t seems the out
laws. finding out the size of the force which
following them, decided to risk an encounter,
and made haste to reach the river bank where
they could find shelter behind trees and
in ravines which line the banks on either SIDE
In this they succeeded, that when the vigil
lantes came up they were entirely, for the time,
at the mercy of two score of men who knew not
what mercy was. Henderson took his men a
short distance up the river, where a fording
place could be found, then crossed, and took up
positions the other side Of the stream from
the outlaws, and where Ills men were as well
protected Trainers men. The river at this
point is only about one hundred yards wide, and
across this distance, from Thursday morning
until Thursday night, bullets were singing on
their mission of death. When the vigilantes
had succeeded in obtaining this position they
fourd they had lost three men and had two
seriously wounded. When Trainer found his
enemy in the rear. the opposite side of the
river, he sent half of his men down the stream
to cross and come upon the other side, fighting
under cover of the trees. In ths coup detat
they were surprised by the avengers, who met
them half way and opened fire upon them.
checking their course and driving them
panic-srrIcken and preci pitstely back. In
deavorng to rally his men Bill Chuel was killed,
and before the river could be reforded, John
Leech. of the robber gang, was shot off his
49, ia GoLS
continued across the stream, the banks of
which were lined at distances of about five rods
apart with sharp shooters. No sooner was
head, arm. any part of a body visible
either side than a leaden bullet was seeking to
linda Judgment therein.
AS Thursday night was coming on, Henderson
called his men in for consultation, when it
found that of his force eight killed
outright. and eight others had received serious,
though not fatal wounds The force was in this
way reduced half. and il was thought best
to remove the wounded here and go back homo
and reinforcements. The dead
buried, and the wounded. it found after
dressing their wounds, were able to return home
with the rest of the party 1t is thought
many of the outlaws were killed of the pur-
Henderson says be will collect hundred
and follow the robbers to hades, if necessary.
but he will wipe them out The following is
list of the killed:
JAMES SAUNDERS, Cakes, Cherokee nation shot
F. FOURMILLE. Garfield, Cherokee nation, shot
through the oody.
BEDROCK CHAPLIN. Lukaa. Cherokee nation. shot
in five places.
BUSHY SASKASWAH Patrick Cherokee nation,
shot through the body.
CHIEF PARR, Cakes. Cherokee nation, shot in the
head.
SAM H. ELLETTER, Eufaula Cherokee nation.
shot twice in the body
WALTER AINSWORTH ranger, from Mus
kogee-
DARLING PRICE. settler. from Camp Greek.
Cherokee nation.
Henry Ayers. a well-todo stockman from the
Cherokee nation, who was one of the party with
Henderson, says that Bud Trainer killed
during the fight. He is of the opinion that not
less than fifteen were killed outright upon both
sides. and thinks one half the outlaws who were
not killed were wounded. 1t is by
certain that another party will be organized to
hunt down the outlaws, it is thought the
severe lesson they have been taught will tend to
drive them from the Territory. at least to cut
a luietus on their lawessness.